Loaded-truck-counting apparatus.



R. MCGAHBY.

LOADED TRUCK coUNTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIOX FILED JAN. 22, 1913.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

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RICHARD MeGAHEY, or WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON. V

LOADED-TRUCK-COUNTING APPARTUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

Application filed January 22, 1913. Serial No. 743,508.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RICHARD MCGAHEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Walla lValla, in the county of Walla lValla and State of lashington, have invented a new and Improved Loaded-Truck- Counting Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

'Ihe present invention more particularly relates to improvements in an apparatus of the character named, for which Letters Patent was granted to me under date of January 2, 1912, which Letters Patent bears No. 1,013,797, and to which `cross reference is here made. Y

Among the principal objects which the present invent-ion has in view are: To provide a countingr mechanism which is positive in its operation and adapted to be affected only by a truck or similar vehicle when rolled thereover, to provide means whereby the counting mechanism with which `the apparatus is provided is unaffected by the passage over said apparatus of the person operating the truck; and to simplify and cheapen theconstruction.

One embodimentof the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of an apparatus of the character named, constructed and arranged in` accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3'is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinalI Vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2.

As seen in the accompanying drawings, platforms 9 and 10'are disposed between guide boards 11 and 12. The guide boards 11 and 12 are each provided with a horizontal flange 13, which flanges are connected by cross bars 14, to form a frame for the apparatus. The outer edges of each of the platforms 9 and 10 preferably rest upon the floor of the building in which the counter is employed.

The platforms 9 and 10 are serially arranged; that is, the platform 9 is arranged to receive the truck and the person attending the same. To provide against the slippage of the foot of the attendant, the platform 9 is provided with a foot-pad 15, as seen best in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The inner end of the platform 9 is connected by clips 16 with the suspension bar 17. The ends of the bar 17 'are squared, as seen in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, and are perforated to receive a guide bolt 13. The" ends of the bar 17 are supported in'normally raised posit-ion by aV spiral spring 19, which enfolds the bolt 18, as best seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The ends of the bar 17 eX- tend through slots 20, one of which is formed in each of the guide boards 11 and 12. The

bolts 18 are rigidly secured upon the flanges 13, which flanges also form a vrest for the spiral springs 19. The inner edge of the platform 10 vis cut away to form a recess 21 and side supporting arms 22. The depth of the recesses 21 is designed to permit the' crank bar 23v to swing toward the platform 10 without impinging upon or interfering therewith.

The arms 22 normally support the platform 10 when lifted to the raised position as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this position, the crank bar 23 is vertically disposed, and the rests 24 thereon support said arms. 1When the platform 10 is disposed in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4

yield to the impact of the truck upon the edge of the platform, while, when the truck passes over that portion of the platform immediately adjacent the bolts 26, so as to depress the same, the platform 10 is moved by the slots 27 toward the center of the apparatus or toward the crank bar 23.

The crank bar 23 is mounted in bearings formed in the guide boards 11 and 12. tending upwardfrom both ends of the bar. 23 are eyelet bolts 28, through which are extended the ends of link rod 29. The 0pposite end of the rod 29 is connected with a yoke 31, the ends 32 whereof are overturned to grasp the last convolution of a coil spring 33. The yoke 31 corresponds with a yoke 34, the ends whereof are overturned in a manner similar to that described with reference to the ends 32, to seat the final convolution of the spring 33 at the opposite end thereof. The yoke 34 is held by'an eye-bolt 35, which is anchored to a bracket 36 by means of a screw nut 37, the ends of said boltsbeing threaded to accommodate the nuts 37.,

The operation of the rigging just above described, embodying thesprings 33, normally holds the bar 23 in upright or lifted position, where the rests 24 support the platform l0 by means of the side arms 22 there 23 is a pulley38, upon which is. partially wound ,a flexible connector 39. The connector 39 operatively unites the pulley 38 with lever l0 of a counting mechanism ll. To Arelieveluncalculated strains which might be transmittedthrough the connector 39, .a spiral spring 42 1s interposedbetween saidy connector. and the lever 40.

The counting` mechanism A4l is of any usual and approved construction There is providedL for said counting mechanism a `case or housing 43, the cover ofwhioh is secured by a lock 44.

The character. of;truck for whichthe construction .shown Yin the drawings is more particularly designedis thatwhieh has two carryingv wheels. To receive the impact. of .said wheels, the bar 23 is furnished with a series of` rollers -l-. llherollers e5, by turning, avoid the tendency which exists, of the '.,whcels of the truck rolling vover and upon the bar 23. lThe action ldesired to be produced uponthe bar 23 isto push the same forward until the ,wheels come in Contact with the edge of the platform l0.

Having thus described my invention, l

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters *Patent .15in an apparatus of the character; named,.the combination of a plurality of parallel, juxtaposed, serially-arranged plat-g forms; aplurality of yielding supports forE saidfpl-atforms; a crank member intermedi-I ate said platforms, to be rocked by a passing truck; rigid supports for the second of, said platforms, operable by said crank mem-l ber to lower said second platform in corre-` spondence with the other platform; and a counting mechanism operatively connected with said crank member, to register the number of operations thereof.

2. ln an" apparatus of the character named, the combination of a .plurality of parallel, juxtaposed, serially-arranged plat- .forms;.a plurality of yielding supports for said platforms; a crank member intermediate said platforms, to be rocked byfa pass- ;ing,truck; rigid supports for the second of said platforms, operable by said crank memgber to-lower said second platform in correspondence with the other platform; a counting mechanism operatively connected with said crank member, to register the num- 3er of operations` thereof; and side boards for said platform.

3. ln an apparatus of the character named, the combination of ,a rotary crank member' Jfielding means for normally maintaining said member Avertically disposed; a platform supported by said membento be lowered thereby to receive a truck after the same has passed over said crank member; and a countingmechanism operatively connected withsaid crank member to register the operations thereof.

4. In an apparatus of the character named, the combination of a rocking member; resilient means vfor holding said member normally vertically disposed; guide members disposed adjacent the ends of said member and provided ata point removed from said member with upwardly and outwardly inclined slots; a platform mounted between said guide members, one edge whereof is supported by said rocking member, tobe lowered and raised therewith; anchoring devices rigidly mounted on said platform to extend through said slots, to rock said platform; and a counting mechanism operatively connected with anchoring devices, to register the operations thereof.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

kRICHARD MCGAHE Y.

Witnesses H. Bld. MoDEnMorT, D. E. HUNTER.

`(Llzapiesof this patent may be obtained for ve centseach, by addressing the `(flornmissioner of Patents, .Washingtom 3.o. 

